Belt Pro

ABSTRACT

The invention discussed includes a durable antimicrobial strap made using a soft-cotton material, which have been enhanced through the integration of antimicrobial material adapted to prevent microbes. The antimicrobial seat-belt covering may be used in applications including seat belts in child safety seats where the seat-belt covering controls the level of cross-contamination by preventing unwanted microbes that contact the seat-belt and thereby, prevents the spread of disease and infections.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The field of invention relates to covering devices, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved vehicular seat belt covering to provide an anti-microbial covering to an associated buckle pair to minimize associated microbial infection through the buckle pair when exposed to various unhygienic environments.

(2) Background of the Invention

The use of seat belts is becoming more and more prevalent in today's world. This is particularly true in regard to motor vehicles. The seat belt cover is generally wrapped around the shoulder belt and secured with fasteners. This securing arrangement secures the seat belt cover to the seat belt but provides no mechanism for preventing the seat belt cover from sliding and from micro-organism with respect to the seat belt. Widespread attention has been focused in recent years on the consequences of bacterial contamination contracted by contact with common surfaces and objects.

A further difficulty is in connection with soiling of the user's clothing. Automobiles are normally used over an extended period of time and accordingly, the seat belts in those vehicles are also used for many years. They tend to become worn and dirty as time goes on and there is relatively continuous use. In fact, even during non-use, the seat belts will become dusty and accumulate dirt and other substances that can discolor and soil one's clothing.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,306,662 suggested a seat belt attachment with perforations to provide for a cooling or heating flow of air to the wearer and is designed to prevent perspiration spoilage of the person's clothing lying immediately below the belt. Attachment is accomplished by means of lacing or by use of a zipper.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,693,495 to Lapointe similarly sets forth a comfort adding covering for securement overlying a seat belt flexible portion to enhance the comfort of a user utilizing hook and loop fasteners to secure the cushion to the seat belt.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,699,401 to Saenz sets forth an additional flexible seat belt covering to provide a protective cushioning to a seat belt.

Many motorists and passengers complain about the wearing of seatbelts for two reasons: (1) Seat belts are uncomfortable and (2) seat belts are not always very clean. So what is needed is an antimicrobial seat-belt cover that provides a barrier to the growth of microbes and decreases the amount of cross contamination between hosts coming into contact with the seat-belt.

As such, it may be appreciated that there is a continuing need for a new and improved vehicular seat belt covering for encompassing the buckle engagement portions of the seat belt to overcome the problems of microbes transmission to the buckles during exposure to extensive contamination and which may be further compactly and readily secured to buckles and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages and drawbacks inherent in the known types of seat belt covering devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a vehicular seat belt covering wherein the same may be readily and effectively secured to opposed buckle portions of an associated seat belt, prevention against microbes and fixedly secured thereto as desired. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved vehicular seat belt covering which has all the advantages of the prior art seat belt coverings and none of the disadvantages.

To attain this, the present invention comprises a vehicular seat belt covering formed of soft cotton base material with an outwardly extending moisture and heat absorbing nap extending outwardly to the base covering with a central opening to expose the release mechanism of an associated seat belt clasp. The seat belt covering is formed with optional soft cotton strips there within to secure the covering to the associated seat belt buckles or alternatively, an optional hook and loop fastener patch is securable to the clasp and buckle portions of the seat belt locking members to secure the covering to the associated clasp and buckle members.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved vehicular seat belt covering which has all the advantages of the prior art seat belt coverings and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved vehicular seat belt covering which includes anti-microbial property which helps user's and other beings put at risk of illness, diseases. In addition by the using of this device people around the world to use their seat belt all the time when they are travelling.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved vehicular seat belt covering which is of a durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention covering for seat-belt provides a new and improved vehicular seat belt covering which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such vehicular seat belt coverings economically available to afford for the public.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved vehicular seat belt covering which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To further clarify various aspects of some example embodiments of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawing. It is appreciated that the drawing depicts only illustrated embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the anti-microbial seat belt covering device;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the representative seat belt arrangement with an exemplary embodiment of the anti-microbial seat belt covering attached to the vehicle's seat;

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings that illustrate the embodiments of the present invention. Other embodiments are possible and modifications may be made to the embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the following detailed description is not meant to limit the invention. Rather the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.

A seat-belt is a type of belt used to secure someone in the seat of a motor vehicle or aircraft. The seat belts are anchored to the body of the vehicles and are subjected to spring tension which causes the seat belt structure to bear against the user's body. The seat-belt cover is a protective guard over the seat-belt. Widespread attention has been focused in recent years on the consequences of bacterial contamination contracted by contact with common surfaces and objects.

In particular, the invention is directed to antimicrobial seat belt straps for covering and formed from a combination of antimicrobial and flexible, soft substrate materials. The flexible, soft substrate materials may be formed from a cotton material that is be made with or treated with an antimicrobial agent.

In an embodiment of the invention, the antimicrobial agent has antimicrobial properties to effectively kill or hinder the growth of microbes, which includes but is not limited to viruses, bacteria, mold, fungi, mildew, yeast, and spores, thereby decreasing the spread of pathogens or germs. The seat-belt covering device is disposable so that after one time using it could be disposed for the prevention of the contamination from micro-organisms. The seat-belt covering device is available in multi-color and could be made by single thread or double thread of cotton for better appearance and protection.

The present invention provides a new and improved vehicular seat belt covering which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. Further the improved vehicular seat belt covering which is of a durable and reliable construction.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a representative seat-belt covering arrangement generally referenced by the numeral 100, of the type that the anti-microbial seat belt cover of the invention may be used. Seat belt covering arrangement 100 includes a securing be strap 102 with two ends 104 and 106 respectively. FIG. 2 shows seat belt covering arrangement 100 with an exemplary embodiment of the antimicrobial seat belt cover, generally referenced by the numeral 118 to the seat assembly for secured to shoulder belt 110. As can be seen in the figure, cover 100 forms an elongated sleeve within which a section of shoulder belt 110 is disposed. The both ends of straps 104 and 106 are connected to the buckle and at the time of using need to simple squeeze and pull down to all over the length of the vehicle's seat-belt. After one time using the seat-belt covering could be disposed to prevent spreading micro-organisms.

It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-discussed embodiments may be used in combination with each other. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description.

Plural instances may be provided for components, operations or structures described herein as a single instance. Finally, boundaries between various components are somewhat arbitrary, and particular operations are illustrated in the context of specific illustrative configurations. Other allocations of functionality are envisioned and may fall within the scope of the inventive subject matter. In general, structures and functionality presented as separate components in the exemplary configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component. Similarly, structures and functionality presented as a single component may be implemented as separate components. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the inventive subject matter. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A vehicular seat-belt covering comprising: a strap member; a buckle member; a first strap containing a first end and a second end; a second strap containing a third end and a fourth end; a buckle joining said first end to said third end, and thereby joining said first strap to said second strap;
 2. The vehicular seat-belt covering of claim 1 wherein aid strap member is made by soft cotton material.
 3. The vehicular seat-belt covering of claim 1 wherein said buckle member connect the ends of the straps.
 4. The vehicular seat-belt covering of claim 1 wherein said seat-belt covering is attached to the edges of the vehicle's seat-belt.
 5. The vehicular seat-belt covering of claim 1 wherein said seat-belt covering squeeze and pull down to cover along the seat-belt.
 6. The vehicular seat-belt covering of claim 1 wherein said seat-belt covering is disposable.
 7. The vehicular seat-belt covering of claim 1 wherein said seat-belt covering is available in multi-color.
 8. The vehicular seat-belt covering of claim 1 wherein said seat-belt covering is made by single thread and double thread. 